Highway crossing gate



.lune 24, 19M-, E. G. LITTLE HIGHWAY CROSSINCT GATE Filed Oct. 5, 1958 5 Sheets-Shet 1 l o 0 o o kf KKH. .T uta r T WMM v HIS ATTORNEY June 24, 1941. E Q LlTTLE 2,247,129

HIGHWAY CROSSING GATE i Filed Oct. 5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR L/Ze ATTORNEY ldwz'n BY June 24, 194i. E, G. LITTLE v HIGHWAY CROSSING GATE Filed Oct. 5, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 NWT ( @NT Nm.

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INVENTOR L 'lzle.

HIS ATTORNEY Patented .inne 24., i941 arent anni iT i;

HEGHWAY CRSSENG GATE Application @ctober 5, 1938, Serial No. 233,436

1d Claims.

My invention relates to highway crossing gates, that is, to gates having a highway obstructing arm adapted to operate between a raised or nonobstructing position, and a lowered or obstructing position, for preventing highway traffic from approaching the intersection of a highway with a railway.

An `object of my invention is the lprovision of a novel and improved highway crossing gate which is operable to an obstructing condition, but which may be yieldingly deflected to a nonvobstructing condition.

Another object of my invention is the provision-cf novel and improve-d gate operating inea-ns for a crossing gate whereby the operation of 'the gate arln is terminated in the event -the arm strikes an `olnstruct-ion in its normal path of travel, but which permits the operating means to assume `a position which substantially corresponds to the position it would assume if the gate arm were not obstructed.

@ther objects and advantages of invention will appear as the specification progresses.

"In the accompanying drawings, Figs. 1A and `ll are views, partially in vertical section and partially in vertical'elevation, which, when placed end to end in the order named, illustrate one form of apparatus embodying my invention. In Figs. lA and 1B, the .gate arm 3 is shown vin its lowered position, the operating `rneans for `the gate arm being in its raised posit-ion. Figs. 2A and 2B, when placed end to end in the order named, are top plan Views with certain parts `shown in `section for `better illustrating the construction thereof, showing the apparatus shown in Figs. 1A and 1B. Fig. 3 is a sectional View or Yone of the tubular members 9 forming arm 3,

erating to its -corresponding .lower position. In

Fig. 16, the gate operating moans is shown -in its loweredpositioinat which positionof the operating Vmeans lthe `gate ann is 'in Aits raised position. In :Fig 7, the gate operating `means is illustrated 1in a position which it assumes if operation of the gate arm is prevented when the arm is being lowered, and which position of the operating means substantially corresponds to its raised position.

Simi-lar reference `characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring to Fig. 1A, a highway crossing gate embodying my invention is shown comprising a supporting housing I, preferably xed on a concrete base 2, and having pivotal-ly mounted therein operating means for operating a gate arm 3 between a lowered and a raised position, the arm 3 in its lowered `position obstructing the highway for preventing vehicles operating thereover from approaching the intersection, and in its raised position being clear of the highway for permitting the vehicles to approach the intersection. The arrn 3 is operated to its raised position when the operating means is in its lowered position, and the arm .t is in its lowered position when the operating means is in its raised position. As shown in Fig. 1A, the arm 3 is in its lowered position, the operating means being in its raised position.

Referring Vto Figs. 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B, a novel form of highway crossing gate arm 3 as shown comprises a U-shaped yoke 4 which is horizontally pivot-ed upon a rotatable shaft 5 cradle-d in the lower portion of an opening V5a provided in the housing ri, the yoke i being keyed to shaft 5 for rotation therewith. The legs @a and tb of yoke Il are provided with balancing and adjusting weights ta and to, respectively, and with air dashpots 'ia and lb, respectively. The arm 3 is Yattached to the yoke i by means oi' a Vertical `pin 8, the pivotal connection preferably being established substantially in the center of the base portion of the -U -shaped yoke. As can lbest be seen in Figs. 1A, 1B and 3, the gate arm 3 preferably comprises tubular members 9 which may be formed cross sectionally as shown in Fig. 3 for the purpose of both strength and lightness, and which may be connected together by any suitable means, such as, for example, the brace plates Qa, it, i2 and i3. As shown, an adapter pipe socket i5 is provided for the outer end of members 9, for supporting a single tubing member it forming the cxtreme outward portion of the gate arm.

Spring loaded cables 'l and 2t (see Figs. 2A an-d 2B) are provided one on either side of the gate arm 3, and each is connected at one end to the plunger rod of lthe associated air dash- -pot lo. or ib, as the case may be, the other ends of cables fil and 2t are connected to gate arm t, the connection with the `gate arm preferably being established near its outward end, and,

as shown, being established at the adapter pipe socket l5 by means of the pins Il and I8. The cables i9 and 2l) are laterally spaced from the members 9 by means of supporting arms 2l, 22 and 22a. Each cable passes between a pair of pulleys 23, 23 or 2d, 2li carried by the yoke 4i. The cables I9 and 2t are spring loaded by means of compression springs disposed within recesses provided in leg yokes da and 4b forming the cylinders for air dashpots 'la and l'b, and serve to bias gate arm 3 to a centered condition, that is, a condition such that when lowered, the gate arm extends across the roadway substantially at a right angle with the highway. In this centered or obstructing condition of the gate arm, the member 9ct engages the latch section provided in yoke t (see Fig. 4) for latching the arm 3 into its obstructing condition. As can be seen in Fig. 2A, the cable i9, for eX- ample, is connected with the plunger rod of dash-pot la, and a coil spring 25 disposed within recess 2li of yoke leg c bears against the piston head 2id and leg fla, thereby establishing a biasing tension within the cable i5.

In the event gate arm 3 is lowered to its obstructing position so as to obstruct traino operating along the highway, and the gate arm is struck in a horizontal direction, the gate arm will rotate about the vertical pin The initial shock of the force striking gate arm 3 will be absorbed by the cable i9 or 2d, with the result the gate withstands an initial force of quite large proportion without effecting damage to the arm. For example, when a force applied to the lower side of arm 3, as viewed in Fig. 2A, exceeds the spring bias exerted upon the arm by the cable i9 and the spring 25, the arm is swung horizontally, or upwardly as viewed in Fig. 2A, into a non-obstructing condition, the rotation of the arm acting upon the plunger rod cf dashpot la and compressing the spring 2li. When the force causing the rotation of arm 3 is removed, the compressed spring 25 acts upon the piston head 27a of the dashpot la, and thereby returns the arm 3 to its obstructing condition, the rate of the return movement of the arm under these conditions being constrained to the slow rate at which the air in dashpot 'la will ow through the restricted opening 'ld of the dashpot, thus eliminating the possibility of darnage to a vehicle or to the gate under these conditions. It should be noted that a pulley 8a is mounted on the vertical pin 3 for preventing the cable i9 or Zu from engaging the brace member (la in the event that arm 3 is rotated substantially 90 from its normal obstructing condition.

1t should be pointed out that marker lights to Fig. 2A, the reference characters 28 designate kjackshafts which are journaled in housing l.

These jackshafts serve to pin supporting arms 29 to the housing l, the other ends of the arms 29 journaling the rotatable shaft 5, to which shaft is aflixed the U-shaped yoke 6i. Also fixed to shaft 5 is a frame member 3i), and supported in the outward end of the member 313 is the operating means for rotating the shaft 5. The operating means as here shown comprises a countershaft 3l journaled in the frame member Sil, and having secured thereon a gear 3i and a crank arm 33. The gear 32 is operatively connected with a power element, here shown as an electric motor 34, by means of a train of gears 35, 36, 3l, 38 and 39, the motor Si being supported and fastened to the frame member it. The crank arm 33 is pin connected by means of a pin @E to a connecting member 4| (see Fig. 1A) which member is in turn pinned to the housing l by means of a pin 32.

The shaft 5 is adapted to be engaged by a latch member 43, which is pin connected with the connecting member Gl, in the lowered and raised positions of the mechanism for holding shaft 5 cradled in housing l. As w-ill appear nrore clearly hereinafter, the latch member i3 is controlled to permit shaft 5 to rotate about the jackand reflectors mlay be mounted upon the gate.. arm 3 in accordance with the usual practice.

Since the gate arm is preferably formed having a tubular cross section, the circuit wires for the marker lights may be enclosed within one of the tubular members, whereby the wires are protected and insulated from damage and a separate conduit for that purpose is not required.

One advantage of my invention is the provision of a novel and improved crossing gate arm which when lowered is normally biased to its obstructing..

condition, but which is operable to a condition The operating means for the gate arm is shown in Figs. 1A, 2A, 5, 6 and 7. Referring shafts 2S in the intermediate position of the mechanism. The latch member 43 is normally biased by means of a spring 63h (see Fig. 7) into engagement with a stop '13a provided on member lil, thereby establishing a latching connection with shaft 5.

The rotatable shaft 5 is provided also with a crank arm lll connected through a connecting member 45 and a slidable member or link i9 to a crank arm i5 fastened to the upper jackshaft 28, as viewed in Fig. 2A. This upper jackshaft 28 is operatively connected through a U-shaped yoke 4l to a sidewalk arm d8 which is adapted to be operated, in a manner to be made clear hereinafter, between a lowered or obstructing position in which the arm is illustrated in Fig. lA, and a raised or non-obstructing position. A latch member or dog 52 is secured to the upper jackshaft 28 for a purpose to be made clear presently. The function of slidable member G9, referred to previously, also will be explained as the description proceeds.

Motor 34 incorporated into the operating means of arm 3 is adapted to be controlled by any of the well-known types of control circuits in which control of the operating mechanism of the gate arm is established either manually through the medium of manually operable switches, or automatically through the medium of track relays. Inasmuch as the particular type of control circuit employed to control the operation of motor 34 forms no part of my present invention, no control circuit for motor 34 is represented in the drawings. It should, however, be pointed out that in accordance with the usual practice, a circuit controller is provided for the operating means of arm 3 to cooperate with the control circuit in controlling the operation of motor 3d. One such circuit controller, designated by the reference character 59, is represented in Fig. 2A as being mounted on countershaft 3l forming a part of the operating means of shaft 5 and arm 3. The circuit controller 5E is provided with contacts selectively controlled in accordance with the position of arm 3, and which contacts function, as will be made clear presently, to terminate operation of motor 3d when- 4to arm 3 ever clue to the rotation of shaft 5, arm '.3 is conditioned 'to be in its Vlowered or its raised position.

.In describing -the roperation of the 1'operating means for gate arm 3, Ish'all assume that the apparatus is vin the condition shown Ain Fig. 1A, In thisconditionof the apparatus, the operating -means is in its :raised position, and the rgate arm crankarmfi to actuate the connecting Vmember When motor 3a is controlled by its control cir- Acuit `to operate gate arm 3 Ito its raised position,

the actuation of `the ymotor is transmitted through .the previously mentioned train of gears to actuate gear 32 in a clockwise-direction, as viewed in Fig. 1A, and thereby rotate the crank arm 33 in a clockwise direction. Since crank arm $3 is A'pinned `to `the pivotally pinned connecting inoembei' lLtheactuation oi lthe crank arm 35i lrotates the connecting `member 4l-l tothe left about the fixed :pin-d2, with the result that frame member .39 is swung downwardly about rotatable shaft 5, `gate arm `3 is swunrr upwardly about shaft 5, Yand vlatch member d3 is actuated out oi engagement with theshait.

Fig. 5 illustrates the maximum 'swing to the ileft of `.connecting member fili. Atthis point, arm 3 `is swung to approximately'ell above the horizontal. As can be seen in Fig. 5, lthe 'rotation of shaft "5 fis transmitted through crank arm ttl, connecting -rnember (i5 and crank arm it keyed to shaft 28 to `raise the sidewalk arm i8, kwhich `is attached to shaft 23 through the yoke member il (see Fig. 2A).

vl'further clockwise rotation or gear and crank arm '33 results in the connecting member il swinging back to the right, until the centers of 1pins si@ and il?? or" member Lil and the center oi 'the `countershait El! are in alignment, `as illusi trated `in Fig. 6, at which point the arm '3 is in its raised position, and an external force applied will not effect the rotation of crank arm 33. When arm 3 reaches its position, controller "d becomes effective to terminate operation of motor 'si and hence of arm 3, and the controller also is effective to condition motor 34 to operate arm 3 to its lowered position whenever the control circuit becomes operative to control the arm to its lowered position. As can be seen in 1A, 5 and 6, the rotation of crank arm 33 about shaft 3l causes the gate arm 3 to move inmodiied harmonic motion, with `the result 'that although the rate of movement at the start and termination of operation is relatively slow, rapid movement of the arm is effected `intea'rnediate its extreme positions without danger lof shock or impact resulting from rapid movement ofthe arm at the start or termination of movement.

The operation of the operating `means for lowering the arm is similar to the operation just described fer raising the arm, as may readily be seen from an inspection of the drawings, and further detailed explanation is deemed unnecessary except to point out that motor Sli is then driven `in a Vreverse direction. Since the rotation of motor .'ii is reversed, Vgear 32 operates in a counterclockwise direction for `effecting the lowering ol the arm, and the connecting member il again swings to the left about pin i2, with respect to shaft 3|..

In the event that the operating means is lowering the gate arm 3, and a force is applied to the arm opposing such operation, the operating means will continue to operate toward its raised position without eiecting further operation of the arm. Referring to Fig. '7, the apparatus as shown illustrates the operating means operating the arm to its lowered position, but the arm 3 is engaged by an obstruction. As can be 'seen in Fig. 7, `when-the arm Srstrikes an obstruction, the rotation orgear `Sii and crank arm .33 continues by virtue ol the actuation vof the motor 3d, but

further `movement of arm 3 is not e'ected, the rotatable shaft 5 new rrotating in its supporting arms `23 about the jackshafts 28. It is apparent that since shaft 5 is free to rotate about jackshafts -28 (being normally held cradled in housing l by virtue of the Aproportioning of the parts) the operating means continues to operate without -eliecting operation ofthe gate arm, until the operating means assumes substantially the `position in which itis illustrated `in Fig. '7, and at vwhich position the motor circuit controller 5D opens'the operating circuit toiterminateloperation of motor The .parts are-preferably so proportioned that when the obstruction in the path of travel of arm 3 is removed, the arm will assume its lowered Vposition by 'virtue of a gravity bias. It follows that operation of the gate `arm is terminated in the-.event the arm strikes an obstruction, thereby preventing damage 4to the obstruction and gate arm.

It should be ynoted that since the operating `means for arm 3 is mounted on trame member iii and rotates about the sha-ft the operating means partially fulfills the function of a counterweight for the gate arm 3. it should further be `noted that when the sidewalk arm i8 is in its lowered or obstructing position so that it rests against a stop 5l provided on housing l, a latch member 52 provided on 4jackshait Z3 `engages `the countershaft 3l, thereby looking the sidewalk arm against actuation other than an actuation lof the operating means. The slidable member *i9 interposed in the connection of sidewalk larm t3 to gate arm `3 functions in the event of an Aobstruction in the path of Vtravel of arm lit, `to enable the arm to be held motionless during the initial stages of lowering the arm from -its raised position without interfering with the operation of gate arm 3. in this manner, Ithere is minimized the possibility of injury to `pedestrians who might be under the sidewalk arm when it is caused to operate. During the vlater stages oi lowering the sidewalk arm, where there -is less likelihood that a pedestrian on the sidewalk might be struck by arm t3 in descending, the countershaft 3l rising against latch member 52 might force arm @8 down and thus rendei` link Il@ ineffective to hold. the arm motionless if a force is applied to the arm opposing the lowering of the arm.

One `advantage of a crossing gate operating 4'mechanism embodying my invention is the provision of novel and improved means effective upon interposition of a force opposing operation of the gate arm, for terminating the operation `of the gate arm while permitting 'the operating mechanism to assume a position substantially that to which the gate arm is controlled, whereby after the force opposing operation or" the gate arm is removed, the gate arm and operating means are cause to assume the positions to which the arm is controlled.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying :my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, vwhat I claim is:

1. In combination, a crossing gate arm operable between a raised and a lowered position, a rotatable shaft operatively connected with said arm for operating the arm, a supporting housing in which said shaft is journaied, operating means for rotating said shaft comprising a frame member secured to said shaft and having a power element mounted thereon, a crank arm operatively connected with said power element, and means for pivotally connecting said crank arm with said housing for eiifecting the rotation rotatable shaft operatively connected with said arm for operating the arm, a supporting housing, means for supporting said shaft in said housing, operating means including a power element mounted on said shaft for counterbalancing said arm, a crank arm operatively connected with said power element, and means for pivotally connecting said crank arm with said housing for eiecting the rotation of said shaft to impart modiiied harmonic motion to said gate arm.

3. In combination, a crossing gate arm operable between a raised and a lowered position, a rotatable shaft mounted in a supporting housing and operatively connected with said arm for operating the arm, a frame member secured to said shaft, operating means including a power element mounted on said frame member, and an eccentric driving connection between said operating means and said supporting housing whereby said frame member rotates said shaft to impart harmonic motion to said gate arm.

4. In combination, a crossing gate arm adapted to be controlled to a raised and to a lowered position, a supporting housing, operating means operatively connected with said arm for operating the arm and having raised and lowered positions corresponding respectively to the lowered and raised positions of said arm, and means for pivotally mounting said operating means in said housing, operable upon the interposition of a force applied to said arm opposing operation of the arm to its lowered position to terminate operation of said arm while permitting said operating means to operate to its raise-d position, whereby when said force is removed said arm will assume the position to which it is controlled.

5. In combination, a crossing gate arm adapted to be controlled to a raised and to a lowered psition, a supporting housing, a rotatable shaft operatively connected with said arm for operating the arm, operating means having raised and lowered positions corresponding respectively to the lowered and raised positions of said arm and operatively connected with said shaft for rotating said shaft, and means for pivotally mounting said shait and said operating means in said housing operable upon the interposition of a force applied to the arm opposing operation of said arm to its lowered position to terminate operation of the arm and to permit said operating means to operate to its raised position, whereby when said force is removed said arm will operate to the position to which it is controlled.

6. In combination, a crossing gate arm adapted to be controlled to a raised and to a lowered p0- sition, a rotatable shaft operatively connected with said arm for operating said arm to its raised or lowered position, a supporting housing, means for pivotally mounting said shaft in said housing, operating means mounted on said shaft and having raised and lowered positions oorresponding respectively to the lowered and raised positions of said arm, and means for operatively connecting said operating means with said supporting housing operable upon the interposition of a for-ce applied to said arm opposing operation of the arm to its lowered position to terminate operation of the arm while permitting said operating means to operate to its raised position, whereby when said force is removed said arm will assume the position to which it is controlled.

7. In a crossing gate operating mechanism, the combination of, a supporting housing, supporting arms pinned at one end to said housing for rotation thereabout, a rotatable shaft journaled in the other end of said supporting arms and adapted to rotate a highway crossing gate arm between two extreme positions, a frame member affixed to said shaft for rotation therewith; and operating means mounted on said member for rotating said shaft comprising, a jackshaft journaled in said frame member, means operatively connected with said jackshaft for rotating said jackshaft, a crank arm fixed to said jackshaft, and a connecting member pinned at one end to said crank arm and pinned at the other end to said housing for rotation thereabout.

8. In combination, a crossing gate arm adapted to be operated between a raised and a lowered position, a rotatable shaft operatively connected with said .arm for operating the arm to its` raised and lowered positions, a supporting housing, means for pivotally mounting said shaft in said housing whereby said shaft is capable of rotating about a ed point on said housing, and operating means operatively connected with said shaft for normally eifecting operation of said arm without effecting rotation of said shaft abou-t said xed point and effective upon an interposition of a force applied to said arm opposing operation of said arm for eiecting rotation of said shaft about said fixed point without ei'lecting operation of said arm.

9. In combination, a crossing gate arm adapted to be operated between a raised and a lowered position, a rotatable shaft operatively connected with said arm for operating the arm to its raised and lowered positions, a supporting housing, means for pivotally mounting said shaft in said housing whereby7 said shaft is capable of rotating about a iixed point on said housing, operating means operatively connected with said shaft for normally enacting operation of said arm without effecting rotation oi said shaft about said lined point and effective upon an interposition oi a force applied to said arm opposing operation of said arm for effecting rotation of said shaft about said fixed point without effecting operation of said arm, and latohing` means operative when said arm is in its raised or lowered posi-l tion for preventing said shaft from rotating about said xed point.

i0. In combination, a crossing gate arm operable between a raised and a lowered position, a rotatable shaft operatively connected with said arm for operating the arm to its raised and lowered positions, a supporting housing, mounting means including supporting arms pivotally pinned to a fixed point on said housing and journaling said shaft for mounting said shaft in said housing whereby said shaft is capable of rotating about said fixed point, `and operating means operatively connected with said shaft for normally effecting operation of said arm without effecting rotation of said shaft about said fixed point and effective upon an interposition of a force applied to said arm opposing operation of said arm f" for effecting rotation of said shaft about said fixed point without effecting operation of said arm.

11. In combination, a crossing gate arm operable between a raised and a lowered position, a rotatable shaft operatively connected with said arm for operating the arm to its raised and lowered positions, a, supporting housing, mounting means including supporting arms pivotally pinned to a fixed point on said housing and journaling said shaft for mounting said shaft in said housing whereby said shaft is capable of rotating about said xed point, operating mea-ns including a power element, means for mounting said operating means o-n said shaft, and means including a connecting member pivotally pinned to said housing and operatively connected with said operating means for normally effecting operation of said arm without effecting rotation of said shaft about said fixed point and effective upon an interposition of a force applied to said arm opposing operation of said .arm for effecting rotation of said shaft about said fixed point without effecting operation of said arm.

l2. A highway crossing gate comprising, in i combination, a supporting housing provided with arcuate slots disposed in alignment in opposite sides thereof, supporting members pivoted to said housing about the centers of said slots, a rotatable shaft normally cradled in the lower ends of said slots and journaled in said supporting members for rotation about the centers of said slots, a crossing gate arm operatively connected with said rotatable shaft for swinging movement into and from a lowered obstructing position, an electric motor supported by said shaft, and an eccentric driving connection between said motor and said housing for rotating said shaft to impart harmonic motion to said arm normally without causing said shaft to rotate about the centers of said slots. but eiective upon interposition of a force applied to said arm opposing movement thereof to rotate said shaft about slot centers, whereby without effecting further movement of said arm continued operation of said motor is effected until said motor completes its normal operating cycle.

13. In an operating mechanism for a highway crossing gate, the combination with a highway crossing gate arm mounted in a supporting housing for swinging movement into and from a lowered obstructing position in response to rotation of a shaft operatively connected to said arm, said housing having oppositely disposed arcuate slots for cradling said shaft, of supporting members pivoted at one end about the centers of said slots and at their other ends journaling said shaft for rotation about said slot centers, a motor sup.- ported by said shaft, an eccentric connection between said rnotor and said housing for effecting rotation of said shaft in said slots normally without causing said shaft to rotate about said slot centers but effective upon interposition of a force applied to said gate arm opposing movement thereof to effect rotation of said shaft about said slot centers, and a latch operatively connected to said rotatable shaft and effective in the lowered position of said arm to latch said shaft in said slots against rotation about said slot centers but ineffective during operation of said arm into its lowered position to prevent rotation of said shaft in said slots about said slot centers.

14. In combination, a supporting housing, a crossing gate arm adapted to be operated between a raised and a lowered position, a rotatable shaft sup-ported by said housing and operatively connected with said arm for operating the arm between its raised and lowered positions, operating means including a power element mounted on said shaft, and means for operatively connecting said operating means to said housing comprising a crank arm operatively connected to said power element and a connecting member pinned at o-pposite ends respectively to said crank arm and said housing, said crank arm and connecting member being arranged in such manner that both ends of said connecting member align with the axis of said crank arm when said gate arm EDWIN G. LIT'II'LE. 

